Three of our four Double Gameweek 23 captain picks found themselves on the scoresheet in the same fixture. Erling Haaland (£12.2m), Bukayo Saka (£8.3m) and differential pick Jack Grealish (£6.8m) each found the net this past Wednesday night as Man City triumphed 1-3 over Arsenal in the crunch top of the table clash, leading to substantial FPL returns to for all. Martin Odegaard (£7.0m) however, disappointed in the battle of the midfielder creators, with Kevin De Bruyne (£12.4m) reminding everyone of his fantasy credentials with a 15-point-haul.
Whilst we don’t have to wait long until the next double gameweek in the 25th round of Premier League fixtures, Gameweek 24 is back to the usual one match per team. With that in mind, we once again come at you with three premium options for your FPL captaincy, alongside a differential pick ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 deadline
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Harry Kane (£11.8m) vs WHU (H)
Despite Harry Kane (£11.8m) drawing a blank in Europe in midweek against AC Milan, no one can deny his relentless domestic form going forward at present which has seen his significant FPL ownership reap the rewards. As it stands, Spurs’ all-time record goalscorer is on 17 Premier League goals this season, including five assists, giving him a score of 150 FPL points. Only Erling Haaland has managed more in all positions.
Gameweek 24 sees Kane gear up for a London derby as West Ham visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The reverse fixture saw him find the net in a 1-1 draw and the Hammers are currently struggling in 16th-place going into this latest round of fixtures. Spurs desperately need a win and their talisman could well be the man to step up for them in what is always a fiercely contested fixture.
Kevin De Bruyne (£12.4m) vs NFO (a)
For the first time since Gameweek 14, Kevin De Bruyne found the net in the Premier League for Man City in Double Gameweek 23. It was a crucial one as well, as he opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola’s side against Arsenal in a match which Man City won 1-3, taking them top of the Premier League on goal difference. An assist in the same match ultimately gave him 13 FPL points and 15 across the entire gameweek.
De Bruyne is the sort of player that when he gets going, is very difficult to stop and now that he has broken his goalscoring duck, more could be set to come from the Belgian midfielder. City travel to Nott’m Forest in Gameweek 24, a side whom they battered by six goals to nil in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium. Therefore, those who still own De Bruyne should seriously consider handing him the armband.
Marcus Rashford (£7.3m) vs LEI (H)
The relentless scoring spree of Marcus Rashford (£7.3m) is showing no signs of abating anytime soon and the Man Utd man made it eight goals scored in his last nine Premier League fixtures away to Leeds Utd last weekend. Such a rich vein of form has catapulted him up the FPL ranks and Rashford overall score of 136 points is now the highest among midfielders and the fourth highest overall in the game.
The last time Rashford failed to score in Premier League fixture at Old Trafford was all the way back in Gameweek 12, which puts into perspective the impressive nature of his form in front of goal. With 35 fantasy points accrued over the course of the last three gameweeks, Rashford’s captaincy credentials in Gameweek 24 cannot be argued with Man Utd hosting Leicester, who have failed to keep a clean sheet since the Premier League’s resumption post World Cup.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Cody Gakpo (£7.7m) vs NEW (a)
If you’re a Liverpool player, it must give you a monstrous confidence boost to score in a Merseyside Derby. That’s precisely what Cody Gakpo (£7.7m) did in Double Gameweek 23, the Reds’ marquee January transfer signing getting their second goal of the game, sealing a 2-0 win and bringing the feel-good factor back to the club after a disappointing period of the results. The big question now is whether Jurgen Klopp’s men and Gakpo in particular, can back this up in Gameweek 24 away to a formidable Newcastle outfit.
Placing the captaincy on a player facing the best defence in the top flight is a massive gamble, but it’s certainly a differential. Now that Gakpo has opened his Premier League account, more goals for him could be in the offing as Liverpool look to salvage their season. An ultra-attacking style of play is expected at the weekend in what is a must-win-game really from a Liverpool point of view and this may lead to further FPL returns for Gakpo.